Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Lord Grantchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total value of contracts awarded to ICF to run the Green Homes Grant scheme.

Lord Callanan: In line with Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and Policy Procurement Note 07/16, BEIS will be publishing a redacted contract and the legally required information on GOV.UK in due course.

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofthe survey by Simply Business, published on 27 January, which found that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of 82 per cent of small business owners;and what steps they are takingin response.

Lord Callanan: The Government recognises the significant impact that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on both employers and employees, and their mental wellbeing.In order to highlight available support around mental health, the Government is signposting to resources for businesses and employers, including Mind’s website and the Mental Health at Work toolkit, through GOV.UK. We also continue to work with the Thriving at Work Leadership Council to encourage employers to sign up to the Mental Health at Work (MHAW) commitments and to engage leading Mental Health charities and organisations to better understand issues around SME mental health, financial insecurity for small business owners and the self-employed, and continue to explore what further support may be offered. We also know how worried people are and we are taking many steps to protect both jobs and the long-term financial future of businesses during the current economic emergency. Throughout this crisis, our priority has been clear: to protect lives and livelihoods. We have introduced an unprecedented and comprehensive package of business support measures to help as many individuals and businesses as possible, which has mitigated some of the worst immediate impacts of COVID-19 on risk factors for poor mental health. This includes measures such as the small business grants, the Coronavirus loan guarantee schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the deferral of VAT and income tax payments, and more. Businesses can also access tailored advice through our Freephone Business Support Helpline, online via the Business Support website or through their local Growth Hubs in England. The Business Support Helpline continues to support business owners with tailored advice and information, and also signposts individuals to mental health support services where appropriate. Further measures were also announced by my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer that build on the significant support already available as well as set out how current support will evolve and adapt. This includes the extension of the CJRS until the end of April 2021, the extension of the Coronavirus loan guarantee schemes until 31 March 2021, and the introduction of Pay As You Grow measures, meaning businesses now have the option to repay their Bounce Back Loans over a period of up to ten years. Businesses who also deferred VAT due from 20 March to 30 June 2020 will now have the option to opt-in to a scheme to allow them to pay in smaller instalments up to the end of March 2022, interest free. Businesses and individuals can use our checker tool on GOV.UK to quickly and easily determine whether they are eligible for any further financial support at this time. We will continue to work with colleagues across Government, businesses and other organisations, to ensure the right support is available for employers and employees.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Lord Grantchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government howmany meetings Ministers had with ICF before the Green Homes Grant scheme contract was awarded.

Lord Callanan: The Department contracted ICF to administer the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, following a competition, using the Crown Commercial Grants and Programme Services framework.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Lord Grantchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average number of days people wait to receive a voucher from the Green Homes Grant scheme after the application has been approved.

Lord Callanan: Official scheme statistics will be published in due course. We have designed the voucher process to automate checks where possible and minimise the time taken for voucher approval. However, applications must be thoroughly checked for compliance with the scheme rules to help ensure value for money, consumer protection, and detect malpractice. We will continue to work to reduce the time between application and issuance, where possible. BEIS will continue to monitor application data as the scheme progresses.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Lord Grantchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the target number of days forvouchers to besent out once an application to the Green Home Grant scheme has been approved.

Lord Callanan: We have designed the voucher process to automate checks where possible and minimise the time taken for voucher approval. However, applications must be thoroughly checked for compliance with the scheme rules to help ensure value for money, consumer protection, and detect malpractice. We will continue to work to reduce the time between application and issuance, where possible.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Lord Grantchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government howmany people who have received a voucher from the Green Homes Grant scheme are (1) recipients of benefits, (2) notrecipients ofbenefits, and (3) landlords whose applications will benefit their tenants.

Lord Callanan: As of 8th February 21,947 vouchers have been issued. Further scheme statistics will be published in due course.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Lord Grantchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications for the Green Homes Grant scheme have beendeclined.

Lord Callanan: Official scheme statistics will be published in due course. BEIS will continue to monitor application data as the scheme progresses.

Retail Trade: Urban Areas

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to launch a campaign to encourage consumers to support local businessesaffected by theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Callanan: BEIS and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working closely with businesses and Local Authorities for a safe and successful reopening when the health data allows. We will keep all options under review, exploring all avenues to support local businesses as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Government Assistance

Baroness Walmsley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the UK's departure from the EU, what system has been put in placeto scrutinise illegal state aid complaints in the UK.

Lord Callanan: EU State aid rules no longer apply to subsidies granted from 1 January 2021 in the UK, except for aid within scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, including aid under Article 10 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. However, public authorities must comply with our international commitments on subsidies in the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation agreement (TCA), and other trade agreements, as well as the World Trade Organisation rules on subsidies. Since the 1 January 2020, subject to any applicable exemptions, a subsidy in scope of the TCA must follow and apply the principles and prohibitions in the agreement before it can be awarded. The TCA also requires certain information about the subsidy award to be made publicly available. The Department has developed a new publicly accessible transparency database for public authorities to record subsidies, which will be launched shortly. An interested Party can take steps for the award of the subsidy to be Judicially Reviewed if they consider that the public authority has not complied with its duties under the TCA or acted in a way that is inconsistent with general public law principles (for example, if the public authority acted unlawfully, irrationally, or with procedural unfairness). On 3 February, the Government published a consultation on the design of the future UK subsidy regime. This consultation invites views from stakeholders on a number of areas, including oversight and enforcement in the subsidy control regime. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the Government will bring forward legislation in due course and before the end of the year.

Competition: EU Law

Baroness Walmsley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to ensure that UK complaints to the European Commission under the Competition Directive made prior tothe UK's departure from the EUare scrutinised by the EU in a timely fashion.

Lord Callanan: Until the end of the Transition Period, the European Commission could investigate the effect on UK markets of a breach of EU competition law. To avoid a delay to enforcement, the Withdrawal Agreement gave the European Commission jurisdiction to complete its investigations that relate to UK markets if they began before the end of the Transition Period. The Competition and Markets Authority can work with the European Commission on these cases in the way it could before the end of the Transition Period.

Department of Health and Social Care

Spondyloarthritis: Health Services

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the guideline by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Spondyloarthritis in over 16s:diagnosis and management, published on 28 February 2017.

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the guidance included in the guideline by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Spondyloarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management, published on 28 February 2017.

Lord Bethell: No specific assessment has been made.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines describe best practice but are not mandatory, although health and care commissioners are expected to take them fully into account.

Health Services: Coronavirus

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional (1) clinical, and (2) palliative, care support, other than access to tele-medicine, has been available to carers providing end of life care (a) in residential care homes where there is no nursing presence, and (b) at home, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Bethell: NHS England and NHS Improvement have published a range of online only guidance and resources to support healthcare professionals, carers and those less accustomed to providing end of life care in a variety of settings including in-home care.In addition, local areas provide access to medication and equipment, direct and specialist support, and education and training for care home staff. Supporting this, NHS England and NHS Improvement have also supplied pulse oximeters and iPads to care homes to enable them to connect better with general practice.

NHS: Staff

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the next iteration of the NHS People Plan will be published; and what assessment they have made of the recommendations by the Royal College of Emergency MedicineRCEM Cares Retention of A&E staff: policy brief, published in February, (1) to recruit an additional 2500 Emergency Medicine Consultants, and (2) to increase the numbers entering Emergency Medicine training by 120 per year, to ensure services are sustainable long term; and what steps they intend to take in response.

Lord Bethell: The NHS People Plan is a shared programme of work to increase the workforce, support new ways of working and develop a compassionate and inclusive workplace culture in order to deliver the NHS Long Term Plan. We are working with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Health Education England (HEE) and with systems and employers to determine our workforce and people priorities beyond April 2021 to support the recovery of National Health Service staff and services. HEE has also worked proactively with system partners to address service pressures in emergency department teams. We have almost doubled the number of core trainees and consultants in emergency medicine since 2010. HEE will continue to work with service providers, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and NHS England to understand and discuss the recommendations in this latest Royal College of Emergency Medicine briefing.

Attorney General

Corruption: Prosecutions

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) commercial organisations, and (2) individuals, have been prosecuted each year under the Bribery Act 2010 for failure to prevent bribery; and what outcome was secured in each such case.

Lord Stewart of Dirleton: Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010 provides that a commercial organisation is guilty of an offence of failing to prevent bribery if a person associated with the organisation bribes another person, intending to obtain or retain business or an advantage for the company. The offence can only be committed by a corporate body. In respect of the two prosecuting agencies that the Attorney General superintends: The Crown Prosecution Service has prosecuted one commercial organisation under Section 7, securing a conviction against Skansen Interiors Ltd in 2018. The Serious Fraud Office (‘SFO’) has prosecuted one commercial organisation under Section 7, with Sweett Group plc pleading guilty in 2015. The SFO has also separately entered into six Deferred Prosecution Agreements (‘DPAs’) with companies for this offence: YearNumber of DPAs Company20151Standard Bank20161Sarclad20171Rolls-Royce2018020191Guralp Systems ltd20202Airbus SE Airline Services ltd

Department for Education

Teachers: Training

Baroness Donaghy: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure the adequate representation of higher education institutions providing initial teacher training in the Department for Education's Initial Teacher Training Market Review.

Baroness Donaghy: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date they plan to publish the recommendations of the Initial Teacher Training Market Review; and what plans they have to implement a centrally prescribed system for (1) content, and (2) modes of delivery.

Baroness Berridge: The department is aware that teaching quality is the most important in-school factor in improving outcomes for all children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The government is committed to giving every child high quality teaching to help them to achieve their full potential.In November 2019, the department published the initial teacher training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF), which sets out a mandatory core minimum entitlement for all trainees of what they should expect from their training courses. The CCF sets a mandatory training entitlement that all ITT must deliver, embedded in the best, independently verified, evidence regarding quality teaching and what works. This includes content on curriculum planning and sequencing, behaviour management and setting high expectations for all pupils. This framework, along with the Early Career Framework, makes up a minimum entitlement of a three year package of development for trainees and newly qualified teachers, and will play a crucial role improving the quality of ITT.On 2 January 2021, the department announced that we would be resuming our review of the ITT market. The review is focused on ensuring consistently high quality ITT based on the CCF, so that all trainees gain the expertise they need to become effective teachers. Any reforms must maintain sufficient capacity to deliver enough qualified teachers, whilst being accessible to candidates and of benefit to all schools.The Chair and a small expert group, with the support of the department, are conducting early work to better understand these issues and the direction of the work. The department are confident that the expert group covers a range of expertise and perspectives which will be essential in ensuring the review maintains market capacity and reflects an understanding of high quality ITT. Additionally, they are holding discussions with sector representatives including the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers and the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers, with broader engagement planned from late spring. The department expects the review to conclude in the summer. The government will consider the Chair’s recommendations and advise the sector accordingly at that stage.

World War II: Genocide

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by University College London What do Students Know and Understand about the Holocaust, published on 19 April 2018, what plans they have for the reform of holocaust education in schools.

Baroness Berridge: The Government has supported Holocaust education for many years and is fully committed to continuing this support.In recognition of its importance, the Holocaust is the only historic event which is compulsory within the national curriculum for history at key stage 3. This ensures that young people from every background can continue to learn about the Holocaust and its relevance today. Effective teaching about the Holocaust can support pupils to learn about the possible consequences of antisemitism and extremism and to understand how society can prevent the repeat of such a catastrophe.The Department for Education further supports school pupils’ and teachers’ understanding of the Holocaust by providing funding for the University College London’s Centre for Holocaust Education, £500,000 in the 2020-21 finanical year match-funded by the Pears Foundation, and the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz project, £2.193 million for the 2020-21 financial year. These programmes help reach all types of schools and help to develop high-quality teaching across the school sector.The University College London Centre for Holocaust Education’s report and wider research informs the continuing professional development work for teachers that the Department for Education funds by identifying key gaps in knowledge and underpins the educational resources that the centre makes available to teachers across the country.

Renewable Energy: Apprentices

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase apprenticeship opportunities in the clean energy industry.

Baroness Berridge: Apprenticeships will be more important than ever in helping businesses in all sectors to recruit the right people and develop the skills they need to recover and grow.To help employers offer new apprenticeships, as part of government's Plan for Jobs, they are now able to claim £2,000 for every new apprentice they hire under the age of 25, and £1,500 for new apprentices aged 25 and over. As set out by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the Spending Review, we have extended the eligibility period for these incentives until 31 March 2021, continuing our support for employers during the COVID-19 outbreak.Apprenticeship standards developed by the energy industry include Community Energy Specialist, Power Engineer, Junior Energy Manager and Duel Fuel Smart Meter Installer. A full list of standards can be found here: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/. The number of starts on these standards can also be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/9a3c580e-cb78-4331-a055-5d147b4e1ff0.The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) has convened a Green Apprenticeships Advisory Panel to guide the Institute in encouraging trailblazers to align apprenticeships to net zero and wider sustainability objectives. The group comprises of employers with a strong footprint in the clean energy industry and introduces them to other crucial stakeholders to help identify which apprenticeships currently directly support the green agenda and which apprenticeships may need refocusing.The Department for Education and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy launched the Green Jobs Taskforce on 12 November 2020 to help the UK build back greener and deliver the skilled workforce needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Working with employers and relevant stakeholders, the taskforce will develop an action plan to support 2 million good quality, green jobs and the skills needed by 2030, and so support the UK to transition to a net zero economy and deliver a green recovery. Details of the taskforce can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-launches-taskforce-to-support-drive-for-2-million-green-jobs-by-2030.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the report by the National Day Nurseries AssociationEarly Years Funding 2019/20: Underspends and contingency budgets one year on, published in February; and in particular,itsfinding that over the last two years there has been a £1.5 billion underspend by local education authorities across early entitlement funding and Tax Free Childcare.

Baroness Berridge: The setting of local provider funding rates is a decision for local authorities in consultation with their schools forum. The free childcare offers for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds are demand-led and local authorities will see an underspend in their funding if take-up of any of the entitlements has not been as high as the authority had forecast at the start of the year. Any underspend from a local authority’s early years budget is carried forward to the next financial year, and must remain within the education budget, as set out in guidance which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2021-to-2022/dsg-conditions-of-grant-2021-to-2022. Local authorities must also consult with their schools forum on the use of their underspend, as is set out in guidance which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945784/Schools_Operational_guide_2021_to_2022_V4_.pdf.The government recognises that take up of Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) has been below expectations, particularly for school-aged children. For this reason, at the March 2020 Budget we announced a measure that will make TFC payments compatible with school payment agents, allowing up to 500,000 eligible children to access TFC for the first time.The department is in regular contact with the early years sector and we have discussed this report and the findings with the National Day Nurseries Association.

Skilled Workers

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide local authorities with increased control over Local Skills Improvement Plans.

Baroness Berridge: The purpose of Local Skills Improvement Plans is to put employers firmly at the centre of local skills systems, working in partnership with colleges and other providers and informed by key stakeholders such as local authorities, to shape technical skills provision so that it better supports the local economy and boosts this country’s productivity. Mayoral Combined Authorities play a vital role across their local skills system and will be consulted in the development of Local Skills Improvement Plans.

Out-of-school Education: Coronavirus

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of unregistered out-of-school settings providing religious tuition to children to adhere to restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to ensure that any unregistered religious schools which do not allow pupils to usetechnologycannot use exceptions pertaining to vulnerable children in the regulations in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to teach full-to-capacity classes whilst also claiming pupils are home-educated.

Baroness Berridge: Supplementary schools for children, including those offering religious instruction, for example, are typically considered to be out-of-school settings. The department defines out-of-school settings as organisations or individuals that provide tuition, training, instruction or activities to children in England without their parents’ or carers’ supervision, but are not:schoolscolleges16 to 19 academiesproviders caring for children that are registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency Unregistered schools are those that are operating as an independent school without having registered with the department. It is a criminal offence (under section 96 of the Education and Skills 2008 Act) for any person to conduct an unregistered independent school, and where we find evidence that a school is operating unlawfully, the department will seek to take action by working with police, Ofsted and the Crown Prosecution Service as necessary.The department does not hold a central register of all out-of-school settings and so is not able to give an assessment of the ability of providers in the sector to adhere to restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 outbreak. However, since the beginning of the outbreak we have been in close communication with out-of-school settings stakeholders, including various representatives from the faith sector, to outline how the protective measures in the sector guidance work to minimise the risk of transmission and infection of the virus, and how they can be practically implemented across a range of settings.Under the current national restrictions, announced on 5 January 2021, wraparound childcare providers, holiday clubs, and out-of-school settings should only continue to offer face-to-face provision for:children of critical workers, where it is reasonably necessary to support their parents or carers to work, seek work, attend a medical appointment, or undertake education or training; andvulnerable children and young people During the current national restrictions, children who are home educated should not attend out-of-school settings for face-to-face provision unless they are considered to be vulnerable, or if they are children of critical workers.Children may face a range of vulnerabilities, some of which are not easily defined.  Our guidance outlines that local stakeholders (such as education providers and local authorities) are best placed to identify who may fall into this category. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision. Some pupils who have difficulty engaging in remote education may be considered to be vulnerable children and therefore eligible to attend provision. However, settings may provide their own laptops, or should consider different forms of remote education, where this is not possible, such as printed resources or textbooks, supplemented with other forms of communication to keep pupils and students on track or answer questions about work.Further information on the criteria for vulnerable children and children of critical workers can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision. Providers should be moving to remote education as far as possible for those not eligible to attend for onsite provision.The department expects providers that continue to offer face-to-face provision for eligible children, to follow our updated guidance on protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings, in order to safely adhere to the government’s restrictions. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.We have also published updated guidance for parents and carers to follow if their children are eligible to attend for face-to-face provision and they choose to send them to these settings. This guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

Out-of-school Education: Coronavirus

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of unregistered schools continuing to operate whilst restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing; and what plans they have to prevent the operation of such schools in future.

Baroness Berridge: The department has not made any estimate of the number of unregistered schools operating through the current lockdown.Any education setting which provides full-time provision to 5 or more pupils of compulsory school age (or one or more pupils of compulsory school age who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan) is required to register with the department as a school. It is a criminal offence to conduct an independent school that is not registered.The department and Ofsted are continuing to investigate any settings where intelligence or evidence suggest the operation of an unregistered school.All settings, whether registered or unregistered, must also comply with relevant regulations relating to the COVID-19 outbreak. Failure to do so will be a breach of legislation and poses a risk to public health.

Out-of-school Education: Coronavirus

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from Ofsted about changing legislation to ensure that out-of-school settings providing a religious or narrow curriculum can only operate legally if they are registered with the Department for Education; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such representations.

Baroness Berridge: Any education setting which provides full-time provision to 5 or more pupils of compulsory school age (or one or more pupils of compulsory school age who is looked after or has an education, health, and care plan) is required to register with the Department for Education as a school. It is a criminal offence to conduct an independent school that is not registered.The current definition of full-time education does not capture settings which offer only a narrow curriculum, even if this teaching takes place throughout all, or most, of the school day. The department consulted on proposals last year to change the definition of independent schools in primary legislation to incorporate such settings. We are currently considering responses to this consultation and will confirm further steps in due course.The department is considering changes to the registration requirement for schools. The consultation on Regulating Independent Educational Institutions was launched on 14 February 2020 and withdrawn on 7 May due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The consultation was relaunched on 13 October 2020 and closed on 27 November. Following analysis, we will set out the government response in due course.

Department for Education: Mental Health

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a Department for Education Mental Health Action Group.

Baroness Berridge: My hon. Friend, the Minister for Children and Families, and my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, have convened a mental health in education action group to look at the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and staff in nurseries, schools, colleges, and universities. It will consider how to support mental wellbeing while children and young people are being taught remotely, as they return to education settings and with transitions between education settings in September 2021.In the first instance, Ministers will engage with health experts to bring together the evidence of impact on children and young people to identify the existing range of support and make sure it is easy to access and has the greatest possible impact. They will also engage with education stakeholders, including staff and leadership unions, to ensure that we understand the issues that are facing staff in nurseries, schools, colleges and universities and how those can be supported in the coming months. Ministers will also work with the existing higher education task force to ensure that the issues it is considering around mental health are reflected.

Department for Education: Staff

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to theirWhite PaperSkills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth, published on 21January,whetherthey have appointed a bill team to work on the primary legislation they intend to introduce toimplement the reforms tothe further education and technical training system; if so, how many staff have been appointed; and what is the duration of the contracts of any such staff.

Baroness Berridge: The department is aware that legislation may be needed to deliver some of the ambitious reforms set out in our White Paper and have recently been recruiting a Bill team to lead this work. When fully staffed, the team will comprise 6 officials, who will work with other colleagues across the department. Recent appointments to the team have been fixed term until the end of August 2022.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: Canada and Australasia

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards negotiating trade agreements with the governments of (1) Canada, (2) Australia, and (3) New Zealand.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: Strengthening and enhancing our bilateral trading relationships with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are key priorities for the Government’s trade negotiations programme.(1) The UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) was signed on 9th December and it will come fully into force once it has completed ratification in Canada. The TCA locked in our existing trading relationship with Canada as we left the transition period and sets out a clear path to begin negotiating a new trade deal during 2021.(2) Good progress has been made in the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The third round of negotiations was held between 23rd November and 4th December, completing around 50 discussions. Discussions reached an early milestone of exchanging initial tariffs offers. The fourth round of negotiations will begin on 22nd February.(3) We are also making good progress on a UK-New Zealand FTA; the third round of negotiations with New Zealand took place between 25th January and 9th February, making progress in many chapters, and we will be publishing an Outcome Statement shortly.

TRIPS Agreement: Coronavirus

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to put forward amendments to the World Trade Organization’s proposed ‘Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19’ (IP/C/W/669).

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish (1) the questions put, and (2) the statements made, by the UK representative at the World Trade Organization Council for TRIPS meeting on 4 February regarding the proposed ‘Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19’ (IP/C/W/669).

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The UK Government has put forward no amendments to the proposal contained in WTO document IP/C/W/669 ‘Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19’The UK has engaged in debates at the WTO TRIPS Council to promote affordable and equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines. We respect that proceedings from informal WTO sessions are not published. However, at the 4 February session the UK sought further clarification on the parameters of the proposed waiver from waiver proponents. This remains consistent with the Government’s approach to encourage evidence-based discussions on the waiver proposal.

Trade Promotion

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they use todetermine which (1) countries. (2) regions, and (3) markets, have a Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy appointed to them.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy Programme supports British businesses overseas and attracts investment into the UK. The programme works in collaboration with other trade promotion activities, and it focuses on emerging and high growth markets where additional senior interactions can be valuable, or larger economies where multiple interactions at different levels are effective. Trade Envoys are appointed to markets where there are opportunities to increase bilateral trade.We are constantly reviewing suitable countries, regions, and markets to identify where the appointment of a Trade Envoy can be of greatest benefit to the trade and investment aims of the UK with the Prime Minister ultimately making that decision.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the environmental impact of the UK joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections and has made clear it will not sign trade deals that compromise these. We will continue to ensure a high level of protection of the environment in new trade agreements. The UK has long supported the promotion of our environmental values globally and this will continue if we join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).The Government will ensure that accession negotiations with CPTPP are consistent with the UK’s environmental interests and the Government’s policies and priorities. We will be outlining our specific position on environmental standards in our Outline Approach and will publish a scoping assessment, including an assessment of the potential impacts on the environment, at the outset of negotiations.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Hong Kong: British National (Overseas)

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice theyprovideto people in Hong Kong who only hold a British National (Overseas) passport who wish to travel to the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The vast majority of BN(O) passport holders will have another passport, such as the Hong Kong SAR passport which they can use to travel on. We have not been made aware of anyone who has been unable to travel.We understand there may be a very small number of individuals who may only hold the BN(O) document and we are working with the Home Office to explore options for this group.We look forward to welcoming those who wish to settle here.

Sri Lanka: Diplomatic Service

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have supplied to the UN Human Rights Council any (1) redacted, and (2) unredacted, copies of despatches written by Lieutenant Colonel Gash, the former defence attaché of the British High Commission in Sri Lanka about events in that country between 1 January and 18 May 2009 relating to the civil war.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government has not received any request from the UN Human Rights Council for copies of despatches written by the former defence attaché at the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, Lieutenant Colonel Gash, about events in Sri Lanka related to the civil war, and has not provided any.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are currently providing to advance the peace process in the Middle East; and what discussions they have had with the Secretary-General of the Arab League about this process since 31 December 2020.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to making progress towards a twostate solution. We believe that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between Israelis and Palestinians, supported by the international community. The UK is supportive of a regional approach to peace and we have actively encouraged the parties back to dialogue. The UK joined a UN Security Council session, attended by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States on the 26 January. The Arab League and Arab states have a key role in the peace process and we are in close contact on this issue.

Lebanon: Demonstrations

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking, if any, to increase support to Lebanese citizens following the recent protests in Lebanon.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is a long-standing friend of Lebanon and the Lebanese people. Since 2011, the UK has allocated over £700 million in humanitarian and development funding to Lebanon. We were one of the biggest donors following the devastating Beirut Port explosion, providing a £27 million package of assistance to support the most vulnerable. The UK and other members of the International Support Group for Lebanon have consistently called for the swift formation of an effective government which reflects the aspirations of the Lebanese people, and stressed that the right of peaceful protest must continue to be respected. We stand ready to support the people of Lebanon but look to a new government to urgently demonstrate its commitment to reform.

Libya: British Nationals Abroad

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the present security situation in Libya, and (2) the safety of UK citizens resident in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We welcome recent positive developments and the commitment shown by Libyans to engage constructively in the UN-led political process. These include agreement on a ceasefire, a unified transitional executive, and a roadmap to elections in December 2021. The UK is actively engaged in international diplomatic efforts, in support of the UN, to help Libyans find a sustainable, inclusive political settlement for all Libyans.The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to Libya. Consular support is not available from the British government from within Libya, as consular operations remain suspended. Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/libya.

Libya: Bilateral Aid

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current level of bilateral UK aid to Libya; and whether they co-operate with the government of Italy in its aid programmesin that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK expects to spend up to £10 million in Libya this financial year through the Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). This aims to support the UN-led political process, and build the foundations for longer term stability, including through mine action, a stronger civil society and a more dynamic private sector. Libya also benefits from programmes focused on supporting vulnerable migrants, improving humanitarian coordination and improving access to mental health service. The UK coordinates closely with a number of international partners, including Italy, who we work with as one of several key donors to Libya, to maximise the impact of our aid programmes and deliver support for the most vulnerable.

Issa Amro

Baroness Blackstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Amnesty International on 5 January that Issa Amro is "facing politically motivated charges for his peaceful activism against Israel’s military occupation and illegal settlements"; and what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the conviction of Issa Amro.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the 5 January statement by Amnesty International about Issa Amro's case. Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem attended Mr Amro's court hearing on 6 January. We continue to urge the Israeli Government to fully respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of human rights defenders and organisations. We have also raised concerns with the Palestinian Authority about the narrowing of space for civil society to operate in the West Bank.

Jagtar Singh Johal

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of India about (1) the allegations of torture and mistreatment, and (2) the right to a fair trial, of Jagtar Singh Johal; and what response they have received to any such representations.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We regularly make representations on Mr Johal's case to the Government of India highlighting his right to a fair trial, and calling for an independent investigation into his allegations of torture. During his visit to India in December 2020, the Foreign Secretary raised Mr Johal's case with his opposite number, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. I last raised Mr Johal's case with the Indian High Commissioner in London on 28 January 2021, and with the Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, on 3 November 2020.

USA: Visas

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States about parityof treatment between British National (Overseas)passport holders and full British citizens for visa purposes;and what plans they have to seek such parity withother governments.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We remain in regular contact with our close partners, including the US, on Hong Kong and are pleased to see the steps they have taken to put in place measures in support of people of Hong Kong.

Libya: Detention Centres

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have tosupport efforts to close detention centres in Libya for refugees and migrants.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has repeatedly raised its concerns with the Libyan authorities about the treatment of migrants and continues to press for a better functioning migration system that respects human rights.We support the UN's call for detention centres across Libya to be closed, and call on all parties to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community so that all migrants and refugees can be evacuated safely in accordance with international human rights law.

European Anti-fraud Office: Criminal Investigation

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the European Anti-Fraud Office about its investigation into allegations of harassment, misconduct and migrant pushback.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Where the UK has concerns about human rights we raise them directly with governments concerned. We have not received any request from the European Anti-Fraud Office to contribute to its investigation, nor have we made any representations.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of the number of indictments of Israeli citizens by the government of Israel for charges relating (1) to the assault of Palestinians, and (2) to damage to Palestinian property; and if so, what steps they are taking in the light of any such assessment

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not made this assessment. We welcome the Government of Israel's strong condemnation of settler violence, as well as the establishment of a special governmental unit and legislative changes. Nonetheless, we continue to urge the Israeli authorities to thoroughly investigate every instance and to bring those responsible to justice and end the culture of impunity. We have stressed the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Myanmar: Military Coups

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of China about the political situation inMyanmar since the UN Security Council statement condemning the military coup in Myanmar was not adopted.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK was pleased to secure a strong statement from the UN Security Council on the situation in Myanmar. This was the first such statement since 2008. China has an important role to play as a key regional partner for Myanmar. We welcome its agreement to such a strong statement, and have made it clear that there must be a coordinated response to ensure that the security situation does not further deteriorate. We will continue to work to ensure a strong response from the Council and urge China to live up to its international responsibilities.

Ministry of Defence

Defence: Northern Ireland

Lord Tunnicliffe: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many, and (2) what, declaration forms under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland the Ministry of Defence has to complete to move personnel and equipment to Northern Ireland.

Baroness Goldie: The Protocol is clear that it respects the essential state functions and territorial integrity of the UK. It therefore places no restrictions on military movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.There is no additional paperwork required to move personnel and equipment to Northern Ireland.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Motor Vehicles

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the requirement of 'wash certificates' for all second-hand agricultural vehicles moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and what plans they have to provide financial assistance to traders of agricultural vehicles to cover the cost of those certificates.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Now that the transition period has ended, Great Britain is treated as a third country by the European Union and vice-versa. Building on the existing practice established to maintain the Single Epidemiological Unit on the island of Ireland, both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland remain aligned with EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary rules. Consequently, used agricultural machinery exported from England, Scotland or Wales to Northern Ireland are subject to EU import controls including the requirement for a phytosanitary certificate. Used agricultural and forestry machinery must be cleaned free of soil and plant debris prior to shipping to meet EU import requirements and in order for a phytosanitary certificate to be issued. Defra has put in place the Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS) to support and assist traders moving plants, plant products, agrifood and agricultural machinery from GB to NI. In addition to providing advice and guidance through a dedicated helpline service, MAS minimises business uncertainty by reimbursing or defraying some of the direct costs of certification that traders will incur as a result of the new requirements. Therefore, if a business is moving used agricultural or forestry machinery from GB to NI, they do not need to pay for the phytosanitary certificates. Defra will monitor the performance of the scheme and review it after three months to determine how to best provide ongoing support to traders.

Home Office

Immigration: Hong Kong

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the number, and (2) the circumstances, of Hong Kong residents of South Asian descent who are UK citizens, including UK citizens by descent, who do not have British National (Overseas) status; in what ways such citizens and their families can emigrate tothe UK; and what steps they intend to take to support those people.

Lord Greenhalgh: UK Citizens have right of abode in the UK, including those who acquire it by descent.UK Citizens can sponsor their dependents to come to the UK under the Family Migration Rules. Similarly, their dependents and families may also apply for any other migration route for which they are eligible, including the new Hong Kong BN(O) route if they hold this status.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Regional Planning and Development

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have hadwith the devolved administrationsabouttheir levelling up agenda.

Lord Greenhalgh: We are committed to levelling up opportunities across the UK to spread opportunity and investment so that people feel that they can succeed in their local area. UK Government officials have met with their counterparts in the devolved administrations on multiple occasions to discuss the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the future of local growth funding. This includes regular meetings to discuss any updates, concerns or queries. The UK Government has also held 16 engagement events across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to discuss the UKSPF and local priorities. These were attended by representatives from a breadth of sectors, including officials from the devolved administrations.

Regional Planning and Development: Local Government

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local authorities about theirlevelling up agenda.

Lord Greenhalgh: Levelling up all areas of the country remains at the centre of the Government’s agenda, empowering our regions by devolving money, resources and control away from Westminster. Government has worked with local leaders throughout the pandemic to ensure every region, city and town will recover from Covid-19 and ultimately level up. Government will continue to engage with mayors to discuss the economic opportunities across our major cities whilst also engaging with local partners who represent the different types of places across the country.The Devolution and Local Recovery White Paper will cover how the UK Government will partner with places across the UK to build a sustainable economic recovery and set out our plans for future devolution arrangements. Ministers and officials have regular conversations with partners in local government, working together to progress and shape the levelling up agenda.

Cabinet Office

Local Government: Elections

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the proposal byLord Young of Cookhamon 14 January (HL Deb col 889), what assessment they have made of the suggestion that local authorities should include information about registering to vote and voting by post with council tax bills; and whether this information can be delivered safely.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Electoral Registration Officers have the statutory responsibility for maintaining complete and accurate registers for their areas; decisions on what to include with local authority mailings is a matter for individual councils. The Electoral Commission (EC) also provides guidance for Electoral Registration Officers and will have a role in raising awareness of how people can vote by post or proxy. As part of their guidance to EROs on planning for the delivery of electoral registration, the EC advises that the online registration application form could be signposted on web pages that residents would most commonly use to carry out a transaction with the local authority, such as the page on which to register and pay for Council Tax.

Agriculture: Wales

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were employed in the agricultural sector in Wales in (1) 1991, (2) 2000, (3) 2010, and (4) 2019.

Lord True: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician The Lord Roberts of LlandudnoHouse of LordsLondonSW1A 0PW 05 February 2021 Dear Lord Roberts, As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were employed in the agricultural sector in Wales in (1) 1991, (2) 2000, (3) 2010, and (4) 2019 (HL12843). Agricultural employment estimates are produced using a combination of DEFRA surveys and Office for National Statistics (ONS) employment surveys. Employment estimates by year, industry and geographic location are available to download on the employment surveys datasets area of NOMIS[1]. Table 1 below shows agricultural employment in Wales in 1991, 2000, 2010 and 2019. Table 1: Agricultural employment in Wales[2] YearAll employees, thousands1991 [3]20,0002000 [4]12,0002010 [5]15,0002019 414,000 Yours sincerely,Professor Sir Ian Diamond[1] https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/select/getdatasetbytheme.asp?opt=3&theme=&subgrp=[2] Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand[3] ONS source is the Annual Employment Survey[4] ONS source is the Annual Business Inquiry[5] ONS source is the Business Register Employment Survey

Local Government: Elections

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make arrangements for the local government election counts due to take place on 6 May in England to be conducted on a day soon after polling day to ensure that the counts canbe COVID-19 secure.

Lord True: The conduct of the count will be a matter for Returning Officers - the Government is working with the Electoral Commission to ensure guidance is available to support Returning Officers to effectively deliver the polls, as laid out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 8 February 2021 (HLWS766) and the Government’s Election Delivery Plan. In this process, we understand the importance of securing a safe environment for counts.

Local Government: Elections

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to introduce early voting for local elections in England, or (2) to allow polling to take place over the weekend.

Lord True: Primary legislation states that the polls are to be held on 6 May. We do not consider there is a need for early voting. Advanced voting is already available to those who need or want it through postal voting on demand. Early voting in person would create unhelpful and unnecessary operational difficulties, by requiring additional polling venues and staffing requirements, in what is already a challenging environment for Returning Officers. We are instead supporting Returning Officers in delivering the elections on Thursday 6 May.

G7: Cornwall

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the UK members of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Committee will be selected.

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK civil society organisations have put forward a representative for the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Committee.

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether members of the Women 7 willbe asked to participate in the G7 summit; and, if so, how their views will feed into the discussions.

Lord True: The Government is engaging regularly with UK civil society and other organisations, including the Women 7, to inform our Presidency policy agenda. We look forward to this dialogue continuing as we prepare for the G7 Leaders’ Summit. Details on the Advisory Council will be set out in due course.

Treasury

Goldman Sachs: Corruption

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the fine issued by the US Department of Justice to Goldman Sachs for its role in a conspiracy to bribe high-ranking foreign officials to obtain business, what discussions they have had with financial regulators in the UK about investigating Goldman Sachs for any similar practices in the UK.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator responsible for supervising the conduct of financial institutions operating in the UK and is independent from the UK government. The Treasury discusses a wide variety of issues with the FCA regularly. However, the Treasury has no general power of direction over the FCA and any enforcement decisions by the FCA are independent of government.

Child Trust Fund: Disability

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children in receiptof (1) Disability Living Allowance, and (2) personal independence payment, received an additional Child Trust Fund (CTF) payment in each year since 2005; and what estimate they have made of the number of such children who have been able to access savings held in a CTF (a) with, and (b) without, a court order.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Estimates of the number of children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and/or personal independence payments who received additional Child Trust Fund payments would only be available at a disproportionate cost.HMRC has created a simple online tool to help young people find out where their account is held. If someone does not know where the CTF is held, they can use this service at any time. This will provide the details of the account. For those who do not have the identifying information required to access the tool, HMRC will provide alternative, non-digital routes to finding a CTF provider upon request. HMRC and The Share Foundation are also working together to help children in need of further support. Further information can be found - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/teenagers-to-get-access-to-child-trust-funds-for-first-time.Data is not available for those that have accessed CTFs with or without a court order. However, On 1 December the Government made an announcement regarding the clarification of guidance on court fees and CTFs.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total cost to HM Treasury of providing COVID-19 financial support to thosewho areineligible for such support.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Throughout this crisis, the government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods while also supporting businesses and public services across the UK. To do this, the government has put in place an economic package of support worth over £280 billion this year. These support measures are carefully designed to complement each other to ensure we protect jobs and livelihoods. All our support is targeted to make sure public funds are used responsibly, helping those who need it most as quickly as possible, while minimising fraud risk. Individuals have benefited from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and the temporarily increased generosity of the welfare system. On the SEISS eligibility, the scheme is designed to target those who need it most, and who are most reliant on their self-employment income. Around 95 per cent of self-employed people who receive more than half of their income from their self-employment are eligible. Businesses have benefited from a range of grants, loans and tax reliefs. In January, the Chancellor announced £4.6 billion of further support for the most affected businesses. This includes an additional £500 million, to a total of £1.6 billion, of discretionary funding for local authorities to support their local businesses, known as the Additional Restrictions Grant. As part of the new support package, the Chancellor also confirmed that a further £734 million of additional funding will be provided to devolved administrations to reflect the further increases in support in England. We must recognise that it will not be possible to preserve every job or business indefinitely or stand in the way of the economy adapting and people finding new jobs or starting new businesses.

Tax Evasion: Prosecutions

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) bodies, and (2) individuals, have been prosecuted each year under the Criminal Finances Act 2017 for failure to prevent tax evasion; and what outcome was secured in each such case.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: HMRC currently have thirteen live Corporate Criminal Offence (CCO) investigations with a further seventeen possible investigations under review. HMRC update these figures bi-annually on GOV.UK. No corporate bodies have yet been prosecuted under the CCO for the failure to prevent the facilitation of UK tax evasion. This is because these investigations are extremely complex and take considerable time before they are ready to be passed to a prosecutor. The CCO was implemented on 30 September 2017, which means HMRC are only able to consider potential investigations from that date. The offence applies solely to corporate bodies. Individuals are prosecuted under pre-existing legislation that deals with tax evasion and the facilitation of tax evasion. Since April 2017, HMRC have prosecuted 60 facilitators of tax evasion. These cover a range of professional services and apply to different taxes and duties. The CCO legislation was not brought in to simply increase the number of corporate prosecutions but to change long standing industry practices and reduce the opportunity for the facilitation of tax evasion to occur. There are positive signs of this happening with many organisations putting in place reasonable preventative procedures.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many transfer pricing specialists are employed by HMRC for dealing with the tax practices of multinational corporations.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: In 2019 to 2020 there were 456 (441 in 2018 to 2019) full-time equivalent staff working on international issues involving Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) including transfer pricing, diverted profits tax, Controlled Foreign Companies (CFCs) and cross border debt.This figure includes time spent on international issues by dedicated international specialists, Corporation Tax specialists and policy and technical advisers.These staff work with other expert industry and tax specialists to tackle issues that represent a substantial risk of tax loss to the Exchequer in line with HMRC’s “resource to risk” compliance policy.HMRC have invested significant time in training staff to deal with international issues, including transfer pricing.

Retail Trade: Non-Domestic Rates

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on shop closures of ending the business rates holiday.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The unprecedented full business rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties for the financial year is worth about £10 billion to businesses in 2020-21. The Government will continue to look at how to adjust its support in a way that ensures people can get back to work, protecting both the UK economy and the livelihoods of people across the country. The Government is considering options for reliefs for 2021-22 and will outline the next round of COVID-19 support measures at Budget.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Gaming: Coronavirus

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of adult gaming centres that have ceased trading during the past twelve months.

Baroness Barran: The government recognises that the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be extremely challenging for businesses, including the arcades sector. We are continuing to work with organisations in the land-based gambling sector to understand the impacts and how the government may be able to support them. Currently, we estimate that up to 5% of adult gaming centres have ceased trading in the past twelve months. This estimate is based on recent discussions with Bacta, the trade association for the arcades sector.